Dough elevator mechanism



March 22, 1932.

S. SCHIFF DOUGH ELEVATOR MECHANISH Filed Aug. 3l. 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 S14/vanto@ ifqrmmd 5min,

ffm? l if Patented: Mar. .122, Y1932.

g#Nrrsf SfrAfiles eAf'rf'ENr ...EFEIC-Ei-ff sieirruivnpscrrirr,` or' CINCINNATI, oHIo, AssIGNoR To THE zr. H., DAY coMrANY, oF CINGINNAII, omo, A coRroaA'rIoN or omo DoUGH ELEVATOR 1v;noiiiiivisirrH y i Application'.tiled` August 31, 1926.` Serial No. 132,795.

n Thisinvention relates to dough elevators, and has for an object the provision of)` a device in which the advantagesof space saving,`

positive movementand spacing of lumps of dough, and accurate directional'.discharge thereof arel combined.; g

Another object is toprovide a device of the Y y character described which is simple of constructionand which may be readily synchro-r m nized infitsf movement with its intake mech,-

. Y andfloading mechanismand a loop elevator' anism and a doughproofer.

`Another object is. yto :provide in combination. a spacer forflumps of dou-gh, atiming forthe lumps, said `devices beingk arrangedfto rectify the inherentferrors found in practice.

Another object is to provide a dough ele'- vatorV in vwhich lumps of dough are carried without alteration :of shape and Without danger of having them stick to the conveying means.V I

These'and other objects are attained by the means described kherein and disclosedin.'

the` accompanying drawings, in which :A

vention having associated `therewith at its opposite ends,va spacing and intake and timing mechanismand avproofer conveyor.

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of afspac ing device, a fragment of which isshown at the left of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 vis a View taken on line 3 3 of Fig. .2,

F ig.'8'is a fragmental perspective viewof y from sprockets 25j, lead'chains 10 and the pockets 12 carried thereby, below the intake a detail forming part of my invention.

rlhe device `of mypinventioncomprises Ya ldough yelevator by means ofl which lumps of dough are carried in spaced relationand The device comprises Aa. pair of spaced end less chains, 10, connected at predetermined in- Fig.y 1 is a side elevational view of my in-V` tervals by iat rods; 11, between whichfare disposed pockets; or loops 12 ofsuit-able flexible ymaterial7 such as canvas;y These-pockets ory tubular fsheaths {1200 within which.` the lflat rods 11V tit .verysnuglyq This structure isr movable las a unit and iscarried by suitable pairs of sprockets over which the-chains pass,- and are directed through ,their required v path of travel;

In the present embodiment a Y `oidven ticaluprights- 13 arefpositioned. adjacent a loading.mech-anism indicated generally vas 14..

At the top ofthe :uprightsl'are cross armsL tey 15- whichter-minate immediatelyabovel a con,-

kveying mechanism 16,Ak ksuch Vasabelt of a proot'er.y Ai-shaft 17 is journalled at its opey posite ends on cross arms 15 above conveyor 16, and has Xed. thereon a! pair of sprockets 18. At jthey junction of Ieach cross arm 15V audits upright support 131i isiaplate -l9`which has revolubly mounted thereon sprockets, 2(7)v and 21. n

The sprockets 21carrychains 10 tosprockf et` 18l and Asprockets y20fsu-pport thereturn reaches of chain-fromthe sprocket. 18. LThe sprockets 21 are freely)l revolu'ble uponk a suitable shaft 22mounted on lslidable bearings 23- which` are, a'djustably `positioned lby suit- 4 fablelscrews 24:,for ti-ghteningathe chains. Y Adjacent the bases of uprights 13 are. ksprockets 25 yfreely:revolvingfon a shaftor a'ppairzofstuds- 22 which are oiiset fromv sprockets 20, so that the downward reach of chains y1() extends vertically between them.`

A pair ofsprockets' 26, horizontally spaced mechanism 14,. and tol sprockets 2'?, beneath which the chains pass on an upward vertical path to theqsprocket 21. As shown in Fig.l l,

lumps ofdough-28 aredelivered at regularv intervals vfrom the intake mechanism 14;,kk whichis arranged yfor synchronized move-y ment withy chains 10 and loops or pockets 12, so that a lump of dough will be deposited inl each pocket aslit passesthrough the dis-,f

charge mechanism 140 of loader 14. The particular mounting of the pockets on flat rods 11 prevents the pockets from turning inside out, thereby assuring the proper deposit of the lumps of dough therein. As the chains carrying loaded pockets 12, pass from their transverse line of travel between sprockets 26 and 27, to the upward vertical reach between sprocket 27 and 21, the dough rolls to the lowermost or rear end of such pockets and is then carried to its height, after which the chains again travel through a transverse horizontal path. At this time the dough rolls to the center of pocket 12 until such pocket touches shaft 17, which extends traverselyin the path of the pockets. Theflexible material of pocket 12, as it is drawn over the top of shaft 17, causes the lumps ofdough 28 to again roll rearwardly of the pocket until the dough itself is raised over ythe shaft.

During this time the rearmost rod 11 of the pocket is moved over the dough so that the operative size of the pocket is reduced to the end that the lump of dough is snugly re-y tained therein until the entire body of the lump of dough has passed over the shaft.

The lpocket' 12 is now inverted so that the dough 28 drops vertically onto conveyor 16. Thev discharge onto conveyor 16 is absolutely directional and definite so that` the hereto-k fore necessary guide chutes and spacing mechanisms are eliminated. The conveyor 16 may therefore be disposed immediately beneath the cross arms 15 so that much valuable space is saved. It should be noted that if desired ythe top horizontal reach of chain 10 may run immediately beneath the ceiling of the room. This is possible because the path of travel of the pockets or loops 12 is below the level of-chain 10.

The series of pockets of the device of my invention may be synchronously driven from a. revolving part of the intake mechanism 14. As` shown in Fig. 4'. drive chain 29 actuates drive sprocketv30, which is rigidly secured to the shaft carrying one, ofthe sprockets y26. An extended shaft 31 on intake device 14 carries a sprocket 32, which actuates drive chain 29.

Because of the definitespacing of pockets l2 and uniform rate of travel thereof, it is desirable that both a spacing and a timing device be used in loading the pockets. These devices are synchronized with the elevator and may be driven from a common source of power.

, The spacing device, as best shown in Figs.l 2 rand 3, yconsists of an inclined chute 33, which receives the lumps of dough 28 from aA baller or rounder (not shown) rand directs them to anendless conveyor belt-34, which travels transverselyk to the' lower end of the chute and at such speed as to position each lump of'dou gh touching the next lump on the belt. A curved vertical guide 35 directs the dough from chute 33 onto the belt, where the dough lumps are positioned in line by means of a pair of adjustable, spaced side walls 3 The side walls 36 may be secured to slotted angle brackets 37, which are retained in adjusted positions by fastening screws 38 carried by side supports 39.

The belt 34 passes around its actuating roller or pulley ,390, which has a suitable sprocket 40 fixed thereto. A chain 41 passes about sprocket 40 and sprocket 42 which is fixed to shaft 31 of the timing loader. i short inclined basket 43 receives lumps of dough as they drop from spacer belt 34 and deposits them upon a series of curved spaced fingers 44 between which pass the curved rotating fingers 45 of the timer, which pick up lumps ofdough from fingers 44 of the basket and deliver said'lumps at regular intervals into the pockets 12.

y From the foregoing it will be noted that, as the pockets 12 pass beneath the loader 140, the moving fingers 45 pick up lumps of dough 28 and drop them intolsaid pockets, while succeedinglumps are approaching in uniform relation on the belt 34. In this way there is avoided the possibility of having two lumps of dough on the fingers 44 at the same time, and consequently, there is eliminated the danger offorming what is known in the art'as doubles. It will be noted that in this way there is also eliminated the possibility of the fingers 45 digging into the lump of dough following the one which it picks up.

- The operation of the device is as follows: Lumps of dough are discharged from a rounder (not shown) onto chute 33, down which the lumps 28 slide to belt 34. The curved? members 35 and sidewalls 36 accurately position the lumps, which are conveyed at a uniform rate of travel by belt 34.y The lumps 28 are carried over the roller or pulley 390 and drop intobasket 43,y from `which they ride onto the curved fingers 44, where they are picked up singl andy dropped at regular intervalsl into poc ets 12. The elevating pockets 12 travel synchronously with the intake so that each succeeding loaf is deposited in asucceeding pocket 12. The discharge at the top of the elevator is hereinbcfore fully described.

The simplicity of structure and the space saving accomplished in its use in a train of dough working and baking machinery are very advantageous.

The positive directional discharge structure effects a great saving of space and eliminatesthe need for the ordinary receiving or guide chute. u

The rolling of the lumps of dough prevents any sticking in the pockets at the place of discharge, so that perfect spacing is had to position the lumps on the proofer belt 16.

What I claim is:

1. In a dough elevator, the combination 7 ceivinglumps of dough, a doughspacing means, means forpicking up4 single lumps of dough at regular spaced intervals and successively depositing them directly into successive pockets, and means for effecting synchronized movement of the depositing means v n n serving ltoeiiect Vdirectional vertical dischargeofthe dough from thevpocketsand and the pockets. 1

2. Ina dough elevator, the combination oi Lan endless series of flexible pockets for carrying the klumps oitv dough, means for moving the pockets through an .intake reach, an

elevating reach, and a'discharge reach andV means for retaining said lumpsiof dough` in the pockets for a predetermined interval oi' movement at the endsof the discharge reach for eiecting deinite, spaced and vertical di-l rectional discharge of the dough from said pockets. y

- 3. In a dough elevator, the combination of an intake, a conveyor operating at an elevation above the intake, an elevator-comprising an endless series of flexible pockets adapted to receivearticles from the intake and to carry them" to a lpoint above the conveyor, a means inthe path of the` pockets and above the conveyorproviding an abutment for the pockets and altering the shape therev of, whereby such articles are retained in the pockets during inversion thereof for eiecti-ng dropping of the articles Vdirectly on the conveyor. i i y 4. In an elevating mechanism, the combination of a pair or spacer endless chains ai'- ranged for yunitary movement and supporting between them ak series yof flexible pockets for receivinglumpsv of dough, means coin-V prising supportingsprockets whereby the pockets are directed through aflower transverse reach for receiving lumps 01":V dough,

then through an upward reach, then through i a second transverse reach and means disposed adjacent the end of thelastmentioiied reach and-'over which the pockets must ride for retaining the dough'in the pocketsfor the predetermined time during which the pockets are inverted by movement of the chains about the sprockets for enecting uniform direc- .tional discharge of dough from the pockets.- 5. In a dough elevator, the combinationof a pair of spaced, endless chains, revolubly mounted sprockets for carrying said chains through an upper and a lower transverse path and an intermediate vertical path, a series of :flexible pockets suspended between the chains and adapted to'receive lumps ofV dough and tocarry said lumps of dough from a g" fen level to a higher level,and a transverse member atthe end of the upper path of the pockets for effecting abnormal flexing of the pockets, whereby lumps of dough areretained in the 'pockets as said pockets are carrie-d around the endmost pair of sprockets for eiiecting vertical discharge ot' the dough from the, pockets.

a pockets.-

means forsynchronizingthe operation ot' the depositing means andthe'pocket moving means., f' Y 7;:In a udouiglrelevating mechanismythey lcombination of ,an endless series y,or Vflexible.

pockets, .mounted for movement through a transverse loadingreach, then through anele-y vatingl reach and finally through a discharge reach,- .ineansutor effecting movement of the pockets, a spacing device for receiving vlumps of dough and spacing them, anv inclined basket havingy spaced, grooved ngers at the end Ithereof for receiving and arresting the lumps. of dough from the spacing device,

means disposed intermediate said lingers and the loading preach of the pockets for lifting successive lumps of dough from the fingersand depositing them directly into-successive v pockets, and driving means Jfor eEecting syn'-` Y chronized movement of the depositing means andthepockets. f p t 8. In a dough elevator, the combination of an endless series of flexible pockets for `re-V` ceiving `lumps oi dough, a ,doughy spacing:

means, and means for picking up single lumps ofdough at regular spaced intervalsl and depositing them directly into successive 9. Ina dough elevator, the combination of an endless series offleXible pockets, means for moving the pockets through a substam 1 tially Zfshaped path, a chute for receiving` ylumpsof dough,aniendless belt for spacing said lumps of dough from the chute, abasket having slotted ngers for receiving lumps of dough one ata time from said belt and means Y yoperating in synchronism with the belt and pockets for lifting single lumps of ,doughy from the basket and depositing them directly into successive pockets.y n i l0..y In a device of. the class described, the combination of an endless series of pockets arranged forV movement through a substantially Z-'shaped path, a slotted basket disposed above the lower end of the path of the pockets, means for receiving and positioning y lumps of dough and depositing them singly in the basket and means for lifting the lumps oneby one from the'basket and depositing them in successive pockets.

l1. In a device of the class described, the combination of ka pair of spaced, endless llO chains, flat vrods connecting the chains at predetermined distances, an endless belt of flex-g ible material `turned upon itself at intervals and secured to form sheaths for receivingv the l rods, the materia-1 of the belt between adjav the cha-ins.

cent sheaths forming flexible pockets.k

12. In a device of the class described, the combination of a ypair of movable, spaced, endless chains, flat rods secured at their opposite ends to said chains and presenting their edges in the plane of movement of the chains, an endless belt and spaced, integraly sheaths extendin transversely of the belt and rei oeiving t erein the lat rods, whereby the belt is developed into a series of exible Pockets supported one between each pair of adjacent rods, and retaining them on a given side of In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name this 25th day of August,

SIGMUND SCHIFF.

usadas? 

